UFC on Fuel TV 5 Prelims: 5 Reasons to Watch

UFC on Fuel TV 5 takes place Saturday at the Capital FM Arena
in Nottingham, England. That is, of course, unless this event is
also canceled, in which case, everyone should start looking over
their respective shoulders because we are all surely cursed.

Provided this show moves forward without an injury or a “sport
killer” ruining everyone’s fun, it will be headlined by a
heavyweight throwdown between Stipe
Miocic and Stefan
Struve. Prior to the main draw broadcast on Fuel TV, however,
the prelims will kick off at 1:30 p.m. ET, meaning that West Coast
fans will need to park themselves in front of Facebook that morning
if they hope to catch the likes of unbeaten
UFC debutant Jimi Manuwa
If you have not seen Manuwa in action yet, I reckon it is about
time you came around. I do not know that Manuwa has James Te
Huna-type power, but, from the looks of things, he holds enough
weight in his fists to do away with any light heavyweight if he
lands cleanly. The 32-year-old is all business when he steps into
the cage and has done an excellent job thus far using his energy
efficiently while winging those bombs. He has also looked quite
powerful from the clinch, using technique and strength to keep his
opponents off balance while punishing them with sharp knees to the
head and body.

Regardless of how well Manuwa actually does as a UFC light
heavyweight, it is his style that should win him a decent cheering
section on this side of the Atlantic. After all, it is tough to
dislike a guy who constantly moves forward while seeking to batter
his foe unconscious. Of paramount importance for Kyle
Kingsbury: avoid Manuwa’s left hook. That baby needs a nickname
-- and fast -- because it is a skull-seeking missile thrown without
concern for human life.

Kingsbury should attack the lower body if he hopes to disrupt
Manuwa’s rhythm. For all his power, the “Poster Boy” has looked
susceptible to leg kicks at times. Also of note, the Brit typically
holds his hands quite low, though his confidence in his reflexes
has thus far proved to be well-founded. The good news for fight
fans: Kingsbury has never been one to back away from a donnybrook,
which should make for an exciting result, one way or another.

The debut of the “Poster Boy” is just one reason to check out the
UFC on Fuel TV 5 prelims. Here are four more:

‘TUF’ Call

Andy
Ogle will finally get his chance to strut his stuff inside the
Octagon.

The catch: he will face Akira
Corassani, a member of the highly regarded “Ultimate Fighter”
Season 14 cast. As fans will recall, some seasons of the
long-running reality show have produced a less-than-stellar crop of
talent. That was not the case with the show’s 14th iteration, as at
least half a dozen contestants from that season appear to be on
their way to competing in meaningful fights and collecting steady
paychecks. Corassani could find his way onto that list if he can
navigate past Ogle, who should find no shortage of willing
supporters at the Capital FM Arena.

Both men have seen their UFC debuts hindered by injuries. Can Ogle
make a statement on home soil, or will Corassani spoil the Brit’s
homecoming?

Tom
Watson File Photo

Watson has won three straight.

Man Called ‘Kong’

I feel like Tom Watson’s
inaugural UFC cage walk could have been something special if we had
not been spoiled by Tom Lawlor
during these past few these years. Still, who else is psyched to
see a grown man boogie on down to the Octagon wearing a gorilla
mask?

Can Watson use his established standup attack to make a run in the
UFC middleweight division, or will once-beaten prospect Brad
Tavares throw cold water on the Brit’s debut?

‘Ice’ Man

MMA fans should take note of Gunnar
Nelson, because this kid could be a big deal at welterweight.
Granted, the 24-year-old has yet to face the type of competition
that would present a clear indication of whether he is ready for
prime time, but he has already achieved some impressive heights as
a grappler by winning the 2009 No-Gi Pan-American Championship at
189 pounds and then earning runner-up honors in the absolute
category that same year.

Originally slated to meet German prospect Pascal
Krauss, Nelson instead faces “The Ultimate Fighter 9” finalist
DaMarques
Johnson, who enters the cage just two months removed from a
vicious knockout at the hands of Mike
Swick.

Will Nelson live up to the hype and prove worthy of his UFC berth,
or can the “Darkness” turn out his lights before getting dragged to
the mat?

Ready, Aim, Fire

After nearly 11 months on the shelf due to injury, Peralta should
be chomping at the bit to get back into the cage and start swinging
at something. Though last November’s accidental head butt of
Mackens
Semerzier and the resulting no-contest is likely the thing that
has stuck with viewers since that UFC on Fox 1 bout, it would be
foolish to ignore the fact that the Californian has not lost since
July 2009.

Young, meanwhile, has found mixed results in his three-fight
Octagon career, dropping decisions to Dustin
Poirier and Michihiro
Omigawa prior to outpointing Eric Wisely
on April 14 at UFC on Fuel TV 2. Though Peralta is certainly no
slouch in the standup department, the Brit should hold a slight
edge from range. If “Problems” decides to close the distance,
however, it could be a different ballgame. Regardless of which man
imposes his will in the evening’s opener, this one is worth a
watch.